By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
As Nigerians prepare for the Saturday, March 18 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, women in Sokoto State have been advised to pray for electoral victory of all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing supporters at the Women Development Center, in Sokoto North Local Government Area on Wednesday, wife of the State PDP governorship candidate, Hajiya Asiya Saidu Umar, urged women to back their payers up by coming out as early as possible on the election day and ensure that they wait patiently till their votes are counted.
"As women, we are the first teachers of our children. And we must always ensure that we inculcate in them the need to defend the values of our culture, religion, and tradition.
"We also have to note that we and our children are the largest proportion of voters. Therefore, we should not be scared of any threat. No conventional or proxy security agencies can scare us from our resolve to come out and vote for our candidates".
Wife of the PDP governorship candidate, Safiya Saidu Umar, who donated 3 vehicles to different artists that performed at the Sokoto Women organized rally, appealed for peaceful conduct before, during and after the election, adding that only God gives leadership to whom He chooses at any given time.
Speaking earlier, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, represented by the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hon. Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa, said this weekend's election should be seen as a reciprocation time for women.
This, according to the governor, should also be seen from how his government strives to be very gender sensitive in appointing 3 female commissioners, 3 female Permanent Secretaries, several female Director Generals, and a female counsellor for each council ward in the 23 local governments in the state.
While admonishing Sokoto women to remain very vigilant and ensure that they serve as voluntary agents in monitoring the elections, governor Tambuwal thanked women for their continued support.
On her part, wife of the governor, Hajiya Mariya Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Aisha Madawaki, said the governor has done excellently well, hence the need to support his candidate for continuity.
Rating Tambuwal's score cards, the wife said, the governor has excelled in education, health, agriculture, economy, infrastructure and human capital development amongst others.
Earlier in her welcome address, Hajiya Umu Gada, the Zonal Women Leader of Sokoto North, appealed to women in the state to come out enmass and cast their votes for PDP candidates.
"Sokoto Central is the hub of politics in Sokoto. And it is no longer news that we the women contribute the highest percentage of votes in every election. And interestingly, this present administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has done well in his sustained efforts towards carrying women along in addition to ensuring development in the state.
The Sokoto state PDP Women campaign was attended by wives of all serving Commissioners, chairmen of the 23 local government, women leaders from the Senatoral district, wife of the State ALGON chairman, Hajiya Godo Mustapha Shehu, amongst others. NNL.
